-- user.rb

def password=(pwd)
    @password = pwd
    return if pwd.blank?
    create_new_salt
    self.hashed_password = User.encrypted_password(self.password, self.salt)
end

private

def self.encrypted_password(password, salt)
    string_to_hash = password + "somerandomvalue" + salt
    Digest::SHA1.hexdigest(string_to_hash)
end

def create_new_salt
    self.salt = self.object_id.to_s + rand.to_s
end

-- account_controller.rb

def change_password
    @user = User.find_by_id(@login_id.id)
    if request.post?
      @user.password = params[:user_password]
      @user.update
    end
end

When I access the console, I can generate a new password and save by doing this;

@user = User.find_by_id(5)
@user.password = 'newpassword'
@user.update

However, it does nothing in my controller. How can I make the new password change?

-- Rest of controller

class AccountController < ApplicationController

  before_filter :authorize, :except => [ :login, :signup, :confirmation ]

  def index
  end

  def login
    session[:user_id] = nil
    if request.post?
      user = User.authenticate(params[:name], params[:password])
      if user
        session[:user_id] = user.id
        uri = session[:original_uri]
        session[:original_uri] = nil
        redirect_to(uri || { :controller => 'main' })
      else
        flash.now[:notice] = "Invalid user/password combination"
      end
    end
  end

  def add_user
    check_admin
    @user = User.new(params[:user])
    if request.post? and @user.save
      flash.now[:notice] = "User #{@user.name} created"
      @user = User.new
    end
  end

  def change_password
    @user = User.find_by_id(@login_id.id)
    if request.post?
      @user.password = params[:user_password]
      @user.update
    end
  end

  def confirmation
  end

  def delete_user
    check_admin
    if request.post?
      user = User.find(params[:id])
      begin
        user.destroy
        flash[:notice] = "User #{user.name} deleted"
      rescue Exception => e
        flash[:notice] = e.message
      end
    end
    redirect_to :action => 'list_users'
  end

  def list_users
    check_admin
    @all_users = User.find(:all)
  end

  def logout
    session[:user_id] = nil
    flash[:notice] = "Logged out"
    redirect_to(:controller => 'main')
  end

  def signup
    @user = User.new(params[:user])
    if request.post? and @user.save_with_captcha
      user = User.find_by_name(@user.name)
      Account.deliver_signup_thanks(user)
      @user = User.new
      redirect_to :action => 'confirmation'
    end
  end

end